Method of and mechanism for transferring knitted fabrics



April 21, N. D. WILLIAMS ,098

METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed Jan. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESSES I N V EN TOR:

Lola's ND. Williams Ap 1931- N. D. WILLIAMS METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed Jan. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 m m m Louis M12 Williams;

A TTORNEYS.

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April 21, 1931- N. D. WILLIAMS 1,802,098

METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed Jan. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 '1'" i g i 1 79 lllllliil Ilium;

I N V EN TOR:

95 m/ gzigm 7 K a A TTORNEYS.

W1 TNESSES April 21, 1931- L. N. n WILLIAMS 1,802,098

METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FORTRANSFERRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed Jan. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 y D FIG I/f 29 PM 2 g 22 4 2 2-12 22 WW5;

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WITNESSES 1' NV ENTOR:

-'-, ATTORNEYS April 21, 1931. L.- N. D. WILLIAMS 1,802,098

METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed Jan. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. II-

WITNESSES INVENTOR- W TTORNEYS.

A ril 21, 1931. N. D. WILLIAMS 1,802,098

METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed Jan. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 WITNESSES IN VEN TOR:

April21, 1931- L. N. D. WILLIAMS 1,802,098

METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed Jan. 14. 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG: ma FIC-ZAC WITNESSES I N VEN TOR:

ATTORNEYS.

April 21,.1931- N. D. WILLIAMS 1,802,098

METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING KNITTED FABRICS WI TNESSES 1 .VVEN TOR:

I I 99 p Lam's M12 Wzzqam 7Z5 A VTORNEYS:

warren srArEs PATENT OFFICE LOUIS N.D. WILLIAIvIS, OF OGONTZ, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SCOTT. & WILLIAMS,

' INCORPORATED, ,OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A i CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS METHOD or AND MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRINGlKNITT'ED nannies Application filed .Tanuary14,-19 29. Serial massages.

This invention is concerned with transfer of knitted fabrics between knitting maohines;.or .from knitting machines to other machines adapted to perform further work upon said fabrics. .Transfer operations of this kind areextensively practiced in the.

manufacture of hosiery, for example in applying the tops of half hose produced on a ribber loop for loop to'the needles of a plain knitting machinefor fabrication of the stocking-leg and foot in direct continuation; or again, in applying completed stocking blanks to a looping machine such as disclosed in 'U. S. PatentNo. 1,315,064, granted me under date of September 2, 1919 for automatically closing the toe pockets; both the above operations involving the use of a transfer de vice with points to individually receive the fabric-loops from theneedles of theproducing machine.

.Ooncisely stated, my presentinvention is directed toward enabling transfer of fabric from theneedles of .a knitting machine to the points of the transfer device without necessitating actuation of'the needles by the knitting cams of the machine to precast the loops preparatory to actual transfer; andtoward provision of reliable and efficient auxiliary mechanism whereby the indicated operation isautornat-ically accomplished, to the advantageof securing an absolutely clean and perfeet transfer, with appreciable saving both, withregard to the time for performance of the operation itself, andin the periods between normal successive knittingcycles'of the machine.

This invention may be regarded as an improvement upon the application Ser'. No.

72,483, for method of "transferring knitted fabrics and mechanism for this purpose, filed by me December 1, 1925, the same having, subsequent to filing of this case, matured into Patent No. 1,715,399, dated June 4, .1929,

and to which reference may be had for disclosure of common features.

. Further objects and attendant advantages will become apparent from the detailed, description which follows when taken in connection with the drawings, wherein Fig. I is a frontview. of a portion of a circular knitting machine.v embodying'the transfer mechanism of my invention. 1 V

Fig. II is a view similar to Fig. I,'with thetransfer ring carrier swung to active p'0-' sition overthe needle cylinder.

Fig. III is a. plan View of the organization, with the parts positioned as in Fig. II.

F igQ IV, Sheet 2, is a perspective view of the transfer device or point ring employed toreceive .the fabric from thenee'dles of the machine. g

Fig. V is a longitudinal sectional View through the knitting head and transferring carrier, taken as indicated by the arrows VV in Fig. III.

Figs. VI and VII areviews, similar to the immediately preceding illustration showing successive steps in the transfer operation.

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary sectional view of the needle cylinder and certain of'its adjuncts on a larger scale.

Fig. IX is a view, similar to Fig. VIII, showing the manner in which the needle circle is enlarged to facilitate application of the point ring. 7

Fig. X is a detail section takenv as indicatedby the arrows XX in.Fig. VIII.

Fig. XI is a fragmentary sectional View showing certain details of thetra-nsfer ring carrier.

Fig-XII is a section, taken as indicated by the arrows XII-XII in Fig. V.

Fig. XIII. is a detail section, taken as indicated by the arrows XIIIXIII in Figs. III and XII. m

Fig. XIV isan axial sectional View of one ofthe'cam drums employed .as the means whereby the instrumentalitiesembodied in the transfer mechanism are automatically controlledand' timed. V F ig. XV Sheet 3, is a development of'the cam drum aforesaid.

FigXVI, Sheet 5, is adetail sectional View, taken as indicated by thearrows XVIXVI inFig. III; and, V V

Fig. XVII, Sheet 1, is a fragmentary view of the means by which the needles are held against movement during transferl The needle cylinder indicated at C is shown as detachably secured by means of screws 17 to a driving bevel gear 18 which is rotatably supported within the circular recess of the bed plate 19 of the machine. The needle cylinder assemblage is retained by a fixed annular cover plate 20 formed with an upstanding concentric flange 21, the same serving as the supporting shell for the needle-actuating cams which may be of any approved standard design. As shown, the cylinder C has the usual longitudinal surface grooves 22 for guidance of the needles N, herein shown as being of the latch type and as retained against outward displacement by a group of spring bands 23 lodged in a circumferential recess 24 near the top of said cylinder. The sinkers S which normally cooperate with the needles N, incidental to formation of the fabric loops, are slidable back and forth horizontally in the intervals between the needles N under guidance of radial slots in the dial ring 25 of the sinker head 26, by suitable cams on the cap ring 27 as the cylinder C is rotated.

The sinker head 26, instead of being directly secured to the needle cylinder C as is usual in standard knitting machines, in accordance with my invention is fixed to the P top of a sleeve 28 which extends axially down through said cylinder, as shown in Figs. V, VI and VII. For a purpose set forth later on, the sleeve 28 is independently shiftable longitudinally relative to the needle cylinder C, but obliged to rotate therewith during the operation of the machine by virtue of a spline connection at 29. The upper end of the sleeve 28 is circumferentially enlarged as at 30 to overhang the top of the cylinder C, and internally flared as at 31 to facilitate downward passage of the fabric concurrently with its production by the needles N. At the bottom, the sleeve 28 projects somewhat below the gear 18 for connection to the cylindric fabric receptacle shown at 32, the lat ter having guidance for limited vertical movement in a depending flange 33 of the bed plate 19. A split annulus 34 with an inwardly extending flange engaging a circumferential groove of the sleeve 28 allows independent rotation of said sleeve with re-. spect to the receptacle 32 while acting as a coupling between them, see Fig. V

The device which I employ to receive the fabric from the needles N of the machine has the form of a ring B (Fig. IV) with a circular series of projecting looping points P at one end thereof. This ring R comprises two sections 35, 36 which are hinged together at 37. The section 35 embodies exactly half the looping points P, and, by virtue of the hinging, may be swung to register its points with those of the companion section 36 for loop doubling when the ring R is manipulated in the toe pocket closing machine of my Patent No. 1,315,064 hereinbefore referred to. Associated respectively with the ring sections 35, 36 are semi-circular elements 38, which together constitute a complete concentric annulus A with peripheral notches 39 through which the looping points P extend. The annulus A is shiftable relative to the ring R under guidance of rods 40 which pass through inward flange projections 41, 42 of the sections 35, 36, the movement being limited by arcuate plates 43, 44 (one associated with each of the said sections) joining opposite pairs of such rods beyond said flange projections, as best shown in Fig. XII.

The mechanism relied on for positioning and manipulating the ring R relative to the needles N includes a carrier 45 comprising an arm 46 which is fixed to a transverse shaft 47 j ournalled in a bearing 48 upstanding from the bed plate 19. By this arrangement the carrier 45 is swingable from the normal retracted position of Fig. I, to active position over the needle 0 linder C as shown in Fig. II. At its outer end, the carrier arm 46 has an annular head 49 whereto is attached concentrically, a depending tubular element 50 that serves as a holder to receive the transfer ring R, in the manner illustrated in Fig. V.

air of opposed studs 51 on the inner extremities 91a of a double oke lever 91 with fulcrum attachment on t 1e arm 46 at 92, extend through diametrically opposite slots 52 in the holder 50 and engage a circumferential groove 53 near the upper end of the ring R, see Fig. V. This groove 53 is approached by way of diametrical notches 54 (Fig. IV) which permit clearing of the studs 51 in the act of placing the ring It in the carrier 45, as pre-requisite to final engagement of said groove with the studs 51 by slight rotation of the ring R subsequently, for its retainment in the holder 50. To insure proper registry of the looping points P with respect to the needles N, proper positioning of the ring R circumferentially of the holder 50 is determined by a latch bolt 55 (Figs. III, XII and XIII) which is slidable in a guide 56 on the carrier 45 and urged by a spring 57 to automatically engage a third notch 58 in the top of the ring R as the latter is turned in mounting it as before explained. From Figs. V and XVII it will be seen that the lower flange edge of the holder shell 50 is notched as at 59 to clear the sinkers S, with provision of intervening shoulders to individually engage the needles N at the top and thereby prevent them from being lifted by the fabric loops as said loops are displaced in transferring after the manner to be set forth presently.

The various functions involved in the fabric transfer operation in accordance with my invention are automatically governed by a timing mechanism comprehensively designated by the numeral 60 in Figs. I, II and III. As shown, this timing mechanism comprises a pair of cam drums 61, 62, which are rotatable on separate axes 63, 64 suspended 4 needles Nifor the purpose of penetrating the igsoa-oee ously identified herein. During the knitting cycle of the machine, the pawl 66 is held in retracted or idle position away from the ratchet teeth on the cam drum 61, by'a guard 69 on the end of a right angled arm 70 fulcrumed at 71 to an onset 72 of the bed plate bracket extension 65. The arm 70 may in turn be controlled through coordination with the main or pattern drum of the machine, likewise as in the patent supra.v

From Figs. I, II and XIV, it will be noted that the cam drum 61, of the timing mechanism 60,- has a'circumferential rise and fall cam groove 7 3'for engaging a roller 74 on the shorter arm 75 of a bell crank lever 76 with fulcrum support on a stud 77 sustained by a drop bracket 78 of the bed plate 19, and whereof the larger arm 9 has the form of a gear sector in mesh with a pinion 80 on the shaft 47 of the carrier 45. Consequently as the cam drum 61 is rotated, the carrier 45 is swung toward and away from the needle cylinder C. Accidental movement of the carrier 45, while lower-ed, is prevented by a locking bolt 81 that engages behind a tail piece 5 82 on the carrier arm 46, said bolt being slidably guided in a vertically inclined bearing boss 83 of the bed plate extension 65 and actuated by a cam rise 84 on the top of the drum 62 of the timing mechanism 60. I

To assist in. determining exact registry of the needles ll with the looping points P of the,

ring R, during application of the latter, use is made of a vertical bolt 85 that is adapted for engaging an aperture 86, Fig. XVI, 1n the 1 bevel gear 18 whereto the needle cylinder 0 is secured. This bolt 85 has guidance in the annular cover plate 20, and isnormallyheld inelevated position by a helical spring 87. The office of actuating the bolt 85 at the proper time is relegated to the cam drum 61 of the timing mechanism 60, which, to this end, is provided at the top with acam rise 88,

Figs. III and XV, arranged to lift a plunger 89, wherefrom the imparted movement is transmitted directly to said bolt 85 through a bridging lever fulcrumed on the bracket 48.

Movement of the ringR relative to'the carrier 45 to engage its points P behind the fabric loops, is also brought about undercon- I trol of the cam drum 61 of the timing mechanism 60 through action of the latter upon the double yoke lever 91 hereinbefore referred to. That is to say, as the carrier 45 is moved inward'toward the needle'cylinder' C, a pin-93 extending laterally from the rearward arm 91?) of the yoke lever 91 enters the notch of a hook 94 at the top of a slide rod95. As shown in Fig. II, this rod 95 extends down through the bed plate 19 and at its lower end has a roller 96 in the path of a circumferential cam 97 in the cam drum 61, saidcam being fixed to a slide 98 havingca'pacityfor v downward movement, in a longitudinal guide slot 99 of the drum, while a helical spring 100 tends to normally maintain the cam 97 yieldingly in the raised position shown, see F 1g. XIV. A spring 101 (Fig. XI) in tension between an anchorage projection 102 on the tail- 82 of the carrier 45 and the other rearward arm 9160f the yoke lever 91, act's to maintain said lever in the position illustrated in Fig. I to holdthe point ring Rupin the carrier head 49.

'As a means to displace the fabric from the needle cylinder C during transfer, I equip the machine with an ejector or pusher 103, see Fig. V. This ejector or pusher 103'may be like the one shown in Patent No.1,715',399,' supra, and, as there disclosed, automatically actuated in timed relation with other functionsinvolved in the transfer'operation. As the ejector 103 moves up throughthe needle cylinder C and-the aligned point'ring R,-it

lodges the fabric between a pair of opposing clamp brushes 104 extending crosswise; of the open end, of an upward tubular prolongation 105, of the carrier head 45 (Fig. I),

said brushes being secured to the ends of spnngarms 106 so that they can recede relatively 1n yielding to penetration by the ejector 103.

For a purpose to-be presently explained, the 1 fabric receptacle 32 is shiftable up and down by a finger 107 engaging a notched lug 108 secured at one side of said'receptacle. This finger 107 is secured to a rock shaft 109 with journal support in the drop bearing bracket 78 below the stud 77, and is actuated through engagement of a roller arm 110 (also fast on the rock shaft 109) with a cam groove 111 near the bottom of the cam drum-61 of the"- timing mechanism 60, saidcam groove 111 having a rise at 112 and a depression at 113.

To insure free entry of the'point end of the transfer ring R into the top of the knitting head with avoidance of any strain either upon the points P or the needles N, I provide for initially expanding the needle circle'bv means of jacks 115 (see Figs. VIII, IX and X) whereof one is associated with each needle N. These jacks 115 are lodged in the circumferential recess 24: at the top of the needle cylinder C behind the needles N, and have upward projections 116 that occupy deepened portions 22a of'the needle grooves. The protruding ends ofthe jack projections 116 are beveled on the inward sideasat 117": for cooperation with the circumferential shoulder of the enlargement 30 at the top ofthe sleeve 28. Consequently as the sleeve 28 moves downward, the jacks 115 are simultaneously rocked outwardly about the common fulcrum afforded by the lower corner of the recess 24; and such movement is in turn imparted directly to the needles N which are accordingly displaced laterally and assume the tilted position shown in Fig. IX. The circle formed by the tops of the needles N is in this wise amply expanded to receive the point end of the transfer ring R without actual contact taking place between the points P and the needles N as said ring is applied. In this connection it is important to note that the jacks 115 engage the thicker portions of the needle shanks at a region oposite the spring retaining bands 23, so that absolutely no bending or flexing of the needles N is entailed. This precaution is important since permanent outward bending of the needle tops is apt to prevent knocking over of the loops with consequent formation of heavy tucks which will either rupture eventually and cause a run in the fabric, or result in the breaking of the needles N.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Let it be assumed that the knitting cycle has been completed with the needles N leveled but still holding the terminal course of the finished stocking blank; that the needle latches are cleared in readiness for loop casting; and that the sinkers S are withdrawn from the loops as described in my Patent No. 1,715,399. Also let it be assumed that, immediately upon consummation of these preparatory steps, the timing mechanism 60 is set in motion by release of the pawl 66 through downward movement of the guard arm 70 about its fulcrum 71. \Vith the first pick of the cam drum 01 the arm 110 is lifted through influence of the rise 112 in the cam groove 111, which motion is reversed in the finger 107 with impartation of a downward shift to the sleeve 28. This obviously results in simultaneous actuation of the jacks 115 and outward rocking of the needles N in the manner already understood, the needle circle being temporarily maintained expanded until released as presently noted. The foregoing step is attended by depression of the bolt (through actuation of the bridging lever by cam rise 88 on drum 61) to engage the aperture 86, Fig. XVI, in the drive gear 18 of the needle cylinder C, thereby to lock the latter temporarily against rotation while the carrier 45 is being lowered through concurrent action of the cam groove 73 of the cam drum 61 upon the bell crank 76 and its gear sector 7 9. In

the course of the last described step, the an-' nulus A of the ring It acts as an advance guard to insure alignment of the needles N with the points P. Immediately upon lowering of the carrier 15, the locking bolt 81 is raised by the cam rise 84 on the top of the drum 62 to hold said carrier rigid. With the looping points P of the ring R now within the expanded needle circle, restoration of the sleeve 28 to its normal level by advance of the rise 112 of groove 111 in the cam drum 61 beyond the province of the lever arm 110, results in release of the needles N, which, under the action of the spring bands 23, resume their normal upright posture and repose against the looping points P. Figs. V and IX show the various parts in positions corresponding to the stage of the operation just explained, in readiness for depression of the point ring R which is accomplished by movement of the yoke lever 91 through raising of the hook rod 95 by the circumferential cam 97 of the cam drum 61, the spring 101 operative upon said lever yielding the while to being overcome by the more powerful spring acting upon said cam 97. As the latter step proceeds, the annulus A engages the web to clamp it against the loop drawing ledges of the sinkers S;

while the ring It continues on down until its lower edge rests against said annulus with the points P penetrating the fabric loops, as in Fig. VI. At this time, the ejector 103 is thrust upward through the needle cylinder C and the aligned ring R, carrying along the stocking blank and lodging the same between the clamp brushes 104 spanning the open end of the tubular prolongation 105 of the carrier head 15. During continued motion of the timing mechanism 60, the depression 113 of the cam groove 11.1 at the bottom of the cam drum 01 actuates the finger 107 to lift the fabric receptacle 32. Such motion is directly iinparted to the sleeve 28 with the result that the sinkers S are bodily elevated to strip the fabric loops simultaneously from the needles N, the point ring R incidentally receding to its original position in the holder 50, while the needles N are held from rising by the stop flange about the lower end of said holder, as clearly shown in Fig. VII. The step just described is made possible through capacity of cam 97 on the cam drum 61 to yield under action of its spring 100, and through retroaction of the yoke lever 91 upon the hooked rod 95. With ensuing advance of the cam 97, the rod 95 is released from its influence; and the ring R is thereafter once more retained in the holder 50 of the carrier 45 by action of the spring 101 on the yoke lever 91. Consequent upon further simultaneous rotation of the timing cam drums 61, 62, the needle cylinder locking pin 85 and the carrier locking bolt 81 are permitted to retract under spring action in readiness for the carrier 45 to be swung back to the normal or idle position shown in Fig. I, which is brought about through reverse movement of the sector 79 induced by the depressing action of the delever 91. By depressing the lever 118, preferably with the right hand, the ring R is projected suflicientlyfrom the holder so that it may be easily grasped with the left hand inward of the plane of the fabric loops. Then by turning'the ring R slightly anticlockwise to register the notches 54: with the studs 51, said ring may be readily withdrawn, the clamping brushes lOt yielding to permit reeving of the trailing end of the fabric without inducing harmful tension or stretching. The ring R may thereupon be placed in a. toe pocket closing machine of the type shown inmy Patent No. 1,315,064 hereinbefore referred to, for completion of the stock- 1 From the foregoing it will be apparent that, through my invention, it is possible to effecttransfers by simultaneousdisplacement of the, fabric loops from theneedles of the producing machine without necessitating actuation of the needles by. the knitting cams to'castthe fabric loops as'a prerequisite to actual loop transfer. Time is thus advantageously saved both during the transfer operation. and during idle periods of the machine --between successive knitting cycles with. at-

.machine simultaneously, through relative with the needles.

tainment of greater economy in manufacturing costs. 1

Having thus described my invention, I claim: v r r 1.. The method of transferring knit fabric whichcomprises displacement of all the fabric loops from the needles of the producing bodily movementbetween such needles and the sinkers, to and for retainment by the points of a transfer device previously aligned 2. The combination in a knitting machine comprising a series of needles and knitting cams to actuate them; of transfer mechanism including a transfer device having loop receiving points adapted to be registered with the needles, and means to simultaneously displace allthe fabric loops. from a position on and below the hook closures, by relativebodily movement between the needles and the sinkers, to and for retainment by the points of the transfer device.

3. A knitting machine comprising an element for sustaining and guiding a series of needles, and a head independent of said element carryi g oope a ing sinks/rs in c ma bination. with transfer mechanism including a device having loop receiving points adapted to be registered with the needles, and means for shifting the head relative to the needle sustaining and guiding element to effect simultaneous displacement of all the fabric loops from a position on and below the closures of the needles, to and for retainment by the points of the transfer device, andto dislodge the latter from theneedles at thesame time. p

4. The combination with a knitting machine comprising a cylinder with needles" and knitting cams to actuate them, of transfer mechanism including a transfer ring having loop receiving points adapted to be registered with the needles, and means operative to effect simultaneous displacement of all the fabric loops from a position on and below the needle closures, by relative bodily movement between the needles and sinkers, to. and for retainment by thepoints of thetran'sfer ring.

5. The combination with a knitting "machine comprisinga seriesof needles,'ofmechanism including a transfer device'having loop receiving points adapted for registration with said needles, means to'engage the. tops of the needles thereby to hold them against longitudinalv displacement during transfer,

and means operative while the needles are so held to effect simultaneous transfer of all the fabric loops. I r

6. The combination with a knittingmachine comprising a series of needles of transfer mechanism including a transfer device having loop receiving points adapted to be registered with the needles, associated-means torigidly hold the needles against longitudinal movement in transferring, and meansi'op-' erative whilethe needles are so held to e ifect simultaneous displacement of all the fabric loops from said needles to and for retainment by the points of the transfer device.

7. The combination with a knitting machine comprising a series of needles; of transfer mechanism including a transfer device having loop receiving points adapted to be registered with the needles,associated means to individually engage the needles to hold them'against longitudinal movement in transferring, and means operative-- while the needles are so held to effect simultaneous displacement ofall the fabric loops from said needles to and for retainment by the points of the transfer device. I y

8. The combination with a knitting machine comprising a series of needles; oftransfer mechanism including-a transfer device having loop receiving points adapted to be registered with the needles, associated means to individually engage the needles from above to hold them against being lifted in transferring, and means operative while the need es a 5 he d t flect simnltaneqvs'dis placement of all the fabric loops from said needles to and for retainment by the points of the transfer device.

9. The combination with a knitting ma- 3 chine comprising a series of needles; of transfer mechanism including a transfer device with 100 receiving points, a carrier to position sai device with its points penetrating fabric loops on the needles, means on the carrier affording shoulders to engage and to hold the individual needles against being lifted by the fabric loops in transferring, and means operative while the needles are so held to effect simultaneous displacement of all the fabric loops from said needles to and for retainment by the points of the transfer device.

10. The combination with a knitting machine comprising a series of needles of transfer mechanism including a transfer device with 100 receiving points, a carrier to position sai device with its points penetrating fabric 100 s on the needles, means on the carrier a ording shoulders adapted to en- 5 gage the tops of the individual needles and hold them against lifting movement in transferring, and means operative while the needles are so held to effect simultaneous displacement of all the fabric loops from said needles to and for retainment by the points of the transfer device.

11. The combination with a knitting machine comprising aseries of needles of transfer mechanism including a transfer device with 100 points, a movable carrier to position sai device with its points penetrating fabric loops on the needles, a holder for the device having shoulders adapted to engage the needle points to prevent them from being lifted by the fabric loops during transfer, means operative while the needles are so held to effect simultaneous displacement of all the fabric loops from said loops to and for retainment by the points of the transfer device, and automatice means controlling the carrier, the needle holding means, and the loop displacing means in timed relation.

12. The combination with a circular knitting machine comprising a series of needles; of transfer means including a ring having points adapted for registry with the needles to penetrate fabric loops on them, annular means affording shoulders operative upon placement of the ring to engage the points of the needles and hold them against lifting movement during transfer, and means operative while the needles are so held to effect simultaneous displacement of all the fabric loops from said needles to and for retainment by the points of the transfer ring.

13. The combination with a knitting machine comprising a series of needles; of transfer mechanism including a transfer device with points registrable with the needles to penetrate fabric loops on them, a holder for the transfer device affording shoulders to hold the individual needles against lifting movement during transfer, and means operative while the needles are so held to effect simultaneous displacement of all the fabric loops from said needles to and for retainment by the points of the transfer device and to concurrently dislodge said transfer device from the needles.

14. The combination with a knitting machine comprising a series of needles and cooperative sinkers; of transfer mechanism including a transfer device having points adapted for registry with the needles to penetrate fabric loops on them, moving the sinkers and needles relatively to effect simultaneous displacement of all the fabric loops from said needles to and for retainment by the points of the transfer device.

15. The combination with a knitting machine comprising a series of needles and cooperative sinkers; of transfer mechanism including a transfer device having points adapted for registry with the needles to penetrate fabric loops on them, and means for elevating the sinkers bodily to effect simultaneous displacement of all the fabric loops from the needles to and for retainment by the points of the transfer device.

16. The combination with a knitting machine comprising a series of needles and cooperative sinkers, of transfer mechanism including a transfer device having points adapted for registry with penetrate fabric loops on them, means to hold the needles against longitudinal movement, and means operative while the needles are so held for bodily moving the simultaneous displacement of all the fabric loops from the needles to and for retainment by the points of the transfer device.

17 The combination with a knitting machine comprising a series of needles and cooperative sinkers; of transfer mechanism including a transfer device adapted to rest upon the sinkers with its points penetrating fabric loops on the needles, means for moving the sinkers bodily relative to the needles to concurrently effect dislodgment of the transfer device and simultaneous displacement of all the fabric loops from the needles to and for retainment by the points of said device.

18. A knitting machine comprising an element for sustaining and guiding a series of needles, and a head independent of said element carrying cooperating sinkers; in combination with transfer mechanism including a device having points adapted for registry with the needles to penetrate fabric loops on them, and means for shifting the head relative to the needle sustaining and guiding element to effect simultaneous displacement of all the fabric loops by the sinkand means for.

the needles to I sinkers to effect ers from the needles to and for retainment by the points of the transfer device.

19. A knitting machine comprising a cylinder with needles, and a head independent of the cylinder carrying cooperative sinkers; in combination with transfer mechanism including aring having points registrable with the needles to penetrate fabric loops on them, and means beneath the cylinder for shifting the head relatively for the purpose of effecting simultaneous displacement of all the fab ric loops from the needles by the sinkers to and for retainment by the points of the transfer ring.

20. The combination with a knitting machine having a seriesof needles; of transfer mechanism embodying means for applying a transfer device with looping points to the needles, jacks individually associated with the needles, and means to simultaneously move the jacks upon a common fulcrum to displace the needles laterally in readiness for application of said transfer device.

21. The combination with a circular knitting machine having a series of needles; of transfer mechanism embodying means for applying a point ring to the needles, jacks in a circumferential recess about the needle cylinder and individually associated with the needles, and means to simultaneously rock the jacks outwardly from said recess, as a common fulcrum to expand the needle circle for reception of the point ring.

22. The combination with a circular knitting machine having a series of needles; of transfer mechanism embodying means for applying a point ring to the needles, jacks normally lodged in a circumferential recess about the needle cylinder head and individually associated with the needles, and an element having an annular shoulder to cooper ate with inclines on said jacks and thereby rock them outwardly from the recess as a common fulcrum in simultaneously expanding the needle circle for reception of the point ring.

23. The combination with a circular knitting machine comprising a cylinder with grooves accommodating a series of needles, and elastic retaining bands surrounding the needles in a circumferential recess of the cylinder; of transfer mechanism embodying means for applying a point ring to the needles, individually associated jacks occupying the circumferential recess of the cylinder behind the needles, and means for simultaneously actuating the jacks to expand the needle circle for reception of the point ring.

24:. The combination with a knitting machine comprising a series of needles and cooperative sinkers; of transfer mechanism in} cluding a transfer device with loop receiving points, means for applying the transfer device to the needles, means incidentally operative for temporarily displacing the needles laterally to facilitate application of the transfer device, and means for subsequently moving the sinkers and needles relatively to effect simultaneous displacement of all the fabric loops from said needles to and for retainment by the points of the transfer device.

25. The combination with a knitting machine comprising needle sustaining and guiding means, and a sinker head; of a transfer mechanism including an independent element to carry the sinker head; a transfer device with loop receiving points, means coordinat ed with the element aforesaid whereby the needles may be laterally displaced relative to their guiding and sustaining means to facilitate application of the transfer device, and means for successively shifting the element to first effect needle displacement laterally for the purpose noted, and thereafter to cause displacement of the fabric loops through relative movement of the sinkers to and for retainment by the looping points of said transfer device.

26. The combination with a knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, and a sinker head; of transfer mechanism including an independent sleeve to carry the sinker head, a point ring, means coordinated with the sleeve aforesaid whereby the needle circle may be expanded to facilitate reception of the point ring, and means for successively shifting the sleeve axially to first effect expansion of the needle circle for the purpose noted, and thereafter to cause displacement of the fabric loops from the needles through relative movement of the sinkers to andfor retainment by the points of the ring.

27. The method of transferring knit fabric, from the needles of a producing mechanism to the points of a transfer device, which comprises displacement of all the fabric loops from location below the needle hook closures by simultaneous elevation of the sinkers while the needles are temporarily held stationary.

28. The method of transferring knit fabric which comprises engaging the fabric by means of individual instrumentalities entering the intervals between its terminal loops to displace said loops simultaneously from the needles of the producing machine for retainment by the points of a transfer de vice previously aligned with the needles.

29. The method of transferring knit fabric which comprises engaging the loops of the fabric by individual instrumentalities to displace them simultaneously from the needles of the producing machine for retainment by the points of the transfer device previously aligned with said needles.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 26th day of December, 1928.

LOUIS N. D. WILLIAMS. 

